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Counseling Associates, Inc.

Counseling Associates, Inc. (CAI) is a private, nonprofit corporation that provides comprehensive community-based behavioral health services to the residents of a six-county wide area within Arkansas. This area is considered a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). CAI, a nationally accredited program by CARF, offers a full continuum of innovative, community based behavioral health care services to enhance the quality of life for adults, adolescents, and children in our community. The internship experience at CAI is designed to train doctoral level psychology interns to work with adults, families, children, and adolescents in a variety of settings including clinic, school and community based environments. CAI proudly partners with other community agencies to promote a System of Care approach working with clients. The CAI staff offers the level of guidance needed for a comprehensive learning experience through licensed professionals including full time psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, psychological examiners, and professional counselors.

At the completion of the 2,000-hour internship, the intern will have received experience and training in the full continuum of mental health services offered by CAI. The intern may choose from any of the following programs as minor rotation: crisis management, substance abuse, therapeutic foster care, residential/emergency shelter services with foster care children, parent support, and educational assessment. One minor rotation will include participation with the Child and Adolescent Services System Program (CASSP), a multi-agency team that coordinates assigning and implementing a comprehensive wraparound plan that is family driven, youth guided, and community based. Another minor rotation offered is the early childhood mental health consultation services to area child care programs as part of an early intervention grant from the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education. These services include early childhood program consultation, child care staff training in social and emotional development, individual child observation and assessment, parent consultation, and screenings for social, emotional, and behavioral concerns. The intern will have a major rotation, minimum of 1200 hours, scheduled in the outpatient clinic at Park Place in Conway and school based with the Faulkner County area schools. Both of these major rotations will consist of assessment, diagnosis, and have treatment planning with culturally diverse clients. The intern will be expected to use individual, family and group treatment modalities during both rotations.

University of Central Arkansas Counseling Center (UCACC)

The University of Central Arkansas Counseling Center is the sole provider of mental health services for the University of Central Arkansas community of students, staff, and faculty. Individual counseling, couples counseling, group counseling, crisis intervention, consultation, and psychoeducational programming are all provided at no charge. The professional staff consists of 3 psychologists, 1 psychological examiner, and 1 licensed professional counselor. A psychiatrist is also contracted for five hours per week.

The Counseling Center has served as a training site for graduate students from the UCA Psychology & Counseling Department for more than 25 years. Two interview rooms are fully equipped for audio and visual recording of counseling sessions; live observations are also possible via one-way windows. The Counseling Center is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS). This accreditation has been held continuously since 1982.

At the completion of the 2,000-hour internship, the intern will demonstrate competence in the provision of psychological treatment and assessment, campus outreach, crisis intervention, and supervision. Interns will also engage with an array of university offices and departments, including the Student Health Clinic, Disability Support Services, Police Department, Student Wellness & Development, Multicultural Affairs, Athletic Department, and Advising Center. The Counseling Center is located in the same building as Student Health, Disability Support, and Student Wellness & Development.